Bottle labeling machine



Aug. 15, 1933. J. o. FENNER BOTTLE LABELING MACHINE Filed Feb. 17, 1932 4 Sheets-Sheet l Aug. 15, 19 33. J O FENNER 1,922,577

BOTTLE LABELING MACHINE Filed Feb. 17, 1932 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Zn M1 04 11 .7670766 0. FEW/76x1 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 J, O. FENNER BOTTLE LABELING MKCHINE Filed Feb. 17

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Aug. 15, 1933. J. o. FENNER BOTTLE LABELING MACHINE Filed Feb. 17, 1932 4 SheetsSheet 4 l l I q I ll gwuenkoz @0765 0. 15 3/1/76? Patented Aug. 15, 1933 1,922,577 BOTTLE LABELING MACHINE James 0. Fenner, Worcester, Mass., assignor to Economic Machinery Company, 'Worcester,

Mass, a Corporation of Massachusetts Application February 17, 1932. Serial No. 593,659

9 Claims.

This invention relates to an improvement in a bottle labeling machine, and deals particularly withthe type of labelers as is shown in the prior patents to Ekvall Nos. 1,636,235 of May 24, 1927,

and 1,659,522 of February 14, 1928.

In these prior patents the article or bottle being operated upon is of a general elongated type and presents a flattened face to which the label is affixed. The present improvement contemplates the handling of a round bottle and to which a label is affixed so as to cover the entire circumference of said bottle.

It is, therefore, the main object of the present invention to provide a structure wherein the ends of the label are properly flexed and finally attached so that the label completely surrounds the surface of a round bottle.

A further object of the invention resides in. the novel provision of a member which acts in conjunction with the label grip finger to properly position thefree ends of the presented label so that the ends may be afiixed to the rear face of the bottle.

Other objects and aims of the invention will readily present themselves to those skilled in this art, when the following specification is read in connection with the attached drawings, wherein I have shown the preferred embodiment of my improvement. It will, of course, be understood that variations from the structure disclosed may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the present invention so long as said changes fall within the scope of the appended claims.

In the attached drawings, similar letters of reference indicate like parts throughout the several views, wherein v Figure 1 is a transverse cross section taken through the machine and showing the label applying and aflixing instrumentalities in side elevation;

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the machine at the label afiixing station;

Figure 3 is an enlarged detail view of the parts shown in Figure 1, and clearly illustrating the co-action between the label grip finger and the hooded member for flexing the ends of the label;

Figure 4 is an enlarged view, partly in section, showing the grip finger and the hooded member in their full inward position;

89 Figure 5 is afront elevation of the structure shown in Figure 4;

Figure 6 is a detailed sectional view of the rotating label pressing element; and

Figure 7 is a cross section of the structure shown in Figure 6.

Referring in detail to the drawings, 10 indicates the table or bed of the machine and beneath which is a longitudinally extending power shaft 11. 'To this power shaft 11 there are affixed in any appropriate manner suitable cams 12 and gears 13 which through pivoted link members 14 actuate the variouslabeling instrumentalities in the machine. As shown in Figure 1, the gumming roll 15 is operated through vthe'rod 16, which in turn is connected at its'lower end to one of the pivoted link members 14. The label picker blade 1'7 is likewise operated through the rod 18 which is connected at its lower end to one of the pivoted link members 14. The structure so far described is shown in the prior patents mentioned, and no 7 claim thereto is made in the present case.

The type of label grip finger 19, as is used in the present case, is also identical in its operations to that shown in the prior patents, but there are certain structural details as-to its mounting or pivotal support that is made in this case and which will be referred to hereinafter.

Suitably supported, as at 2020, on the table or bed 10 of the machine is a shaft 21 and rotatably supported on this shaft is an elongated sleeve 22. Formed integrally with the sleeve 20 is a label grip finger 19 which at its upper end is provided with the grip pad 23. This pad is pivotally attached to the finger 19 as suggested at 24. One end of the sleeve 22 is provided with a crank 25 and to the outer end of this crank is coupled the operating rod 26 which in turn is actuated from one ofthe pivoted link members 14 located beneath the table or bed 10.

Pivotally supported and acting concentrically with the grip finger 19 is a so-called hooded or open mouth member which is constructed of a casting bifurcated at its lower end to provide relatively spaced bearings 27,--27 which form the pivotal point of the hooded. member on the elongated sleeve 22. The bearings 2'7.27 may be of the split type, as shown in Figures 3 and 4 to permit ready removal of the hooded member when necessary. Attached to the upper end of the casting is a substantially U-shaped member 199 28. This member is constructed of a relatively light metal and is suitably attached to the casting, as suggested at 29-29. The forward ends of this member '28 are spaced apart, slightly less than the diameter of the bottle so that a slight tension is placed on the ends of the label as they are applied to the bottle. The casting is also provided with a crank arm 30 to which the operating rod 31 is connected and operated from one end of the link members 14 beneath the table.

In orderto press down or afiix the extended portions of the label while the grip finger and the hood mechanism are in their label applying position, I provide along the rear side of the ma- 5 chine two relatively spaced label wipers, which are clearly shown in Figure 2. Both of these label wipers co'nsistof a soft rubber sponge roll 32 rotatably supported in a yoke 33. This yoke is slidably mounted in a base 34 and is yieldingly maintained in its forward position by the expansion spring 35. In order to limit or govern the forward position of the yoke 33, it is provided with a rearwardly projecting rod 36 which slides freely through the flange 37 on the base 34 and has a threaded end to receive the adjustable nut 38.

' One of these wiping members is revolvably mounted, and as suggested in the attached drawings, I prefer to make this construction on the first wiper which comes into action while the bottle is at the label applying station. The base 34 of this wiping element is keyed to the vertically ex tending shaft 39 which is supported in the bear ing 40 attached to the upper face of the table or bed. Secured to the lower end of the shaft 39is a gear 41 which meshes with a driving gear 42 which in turn is actuated through the shaft 43 suitably driven by the bevelled gears 44-13, the latter gear being located on the power shaft 11 beneath the'table or bed.

The bottle is guided during its movements through the machine by the side rails 45 and the overhead guide channel 46. 1

In the operation of the labeling machine, the bottles are progressively advanced, as shown in the copending application, Serial No. 5 i4,60l, along the trackway and deposited in registration with the several labeling stations in the machine. When the bottle is presented at the label applying station, the label grip finger and hood are in their retracted or lowered position; as sug-- gested in dotted lines in Figure 3. The label pickers 17, after receiving their-supply of adhesive from the transfer roll 15 picks a label from the label holder and then presents the same adjacent to the face of the bottle. The label grip finger then swings upward and presses the central portion of the label against the bottle. Immediately thereafter the label pickers swing upwardly so as to clear the way for action of the hood member. This hood. member then swings upward so as to flex the extended end portions of the label rearwardly, and by the same time firmly press or tension the label over the front face and side portions of the bottle. The rotatably mounted wiper is so timed as to actuate just subsequent to the flexing action of the label and effectively rolls one edge of the label into applied-position as is shown in Figure 2;. The yieldable action of the wiper member permits the sponge roll 32 to follow the curved surface of the bottle and effectively apply this particular end of the label to the rear face of the bottle.

The bottle is then again gripped and transported to the next station inthe machine, and while thus in transit, the second label wiper. contacts with the moving bottle and wipes .down the opposite side of the label. The yielding characteristic of this second wiping element also enables the same to .closely follow the contour of the bottle.

What I claim is.

1. In a bottle labeling mechanism, the combination of means for presenting a label to a bottle, of a grip finger for pressing a portion of the label against the bottle, and a member having curved side walls acting in conjunction with the grip finger to attach the label over the front face and side portions of the bottle.

2. In a bottle labeling mechanism, the combination of means for presenting a label to a bottle, of a grip finger for pressing a portion of the label against the bottle, and anopen ended memberhaving resilient side walls acting in conjunction with the grip finger to attach the label over the front face and side portions of the bottle.

3. In a bottle labeling mechanism, the combination of means for presenting a label to a bottle, of a grip finger for pressing a portion of the label against the bottle, and a substantially U- shaped member having its side walls outwardly flared and adapted to act in conjunction with the grip finger to attach the label over the front face and side portions of the bottle.

4. In a bottle labeling mechanism, theCOlllblnation of means for presenting a label to a bottle,

, of a grip'finger for pressing a portion 'of the label against the bottle, and a relatively wide open ended member having curved side walls and acting in conjunction with the grip finger to fold the extended portions of the label over the side portions of the bottle.

In a bottle labeling mechanism, the combination of means for presenting a label to a bottle, of a grip finger for pressing the central portion of the label against the bottle, and a hooded member having outwardly flaring walls adapted to press the label over the front face and sid portions of the bottle. I r

6. In a bottle labeling mechanism, the combination of means for presenting a label adjacent the face of a bottle, of a grip finger for pressing the center portion of the label against the bottle, and asubseeuently actuated means engageable with the label at relatively spaced points from the center thereof for initially flexing the extended portions of the label towards the rear face of the bottle and finally pressing the label against the front and side portions of the bottle.

'7. In a bottle label applying mechanism, the combination of a grip finger for pressing a portion of a label against the face of the bottle,

of means for flexing the ends of the label towards the rear of the bottle, and spring projected rollers adapted to have wiping contact with the bottle for affixing the extended portions of the label to the rear face of the bottle.

8. In a' bottle label applying mechanism, the combination of a grip finger for attaching the central portion of a label to the face of the bottle, of means for rearwardly directing the extended end portions of the label, a rotatable element having a spring pressed roller thereon, said roller adapted to contact with the side and rear face of bottle during the rotation of said element to wipe one extended portion of the label on to the bottle, and a second spring pressed roller for wiping the opposite extended portion of the label on to the bottle.

.9. In a bottle labeling mechanism, the combination of means for presenting a label adjacent the front face of a bottle. of a grip finger for pressing the central portion of the label against the bottle, and a member having its side walls curved to substantially correspond with'the frontv JAMES O. FENNER. 

